Joyeux Noel (Widescreen)

"Joyeaux Noel" by Christian Carion deals with the spontaneous Christmas
"truce"between enemies in the trenches of World War I. Beautifully filmed, cast, and acted, I think it is the most moving and effective anti war film, I have ever seen. Frankly, I think it beats films such as "Full Metal Jacket" or "Platoon" (or even "Saving Private Ryan")by a long shot, particularly the first two since the Great War was just about as pointless as was Viet Nam. This was a very poignant time to have released such a film. I've bought several copies for gifts for next Christmas.

A great movie based on true events; a keeper to have and watch every Christmas.

This film is a fictional amalgam of several true incidents in which soldiers in opposite trenches in the First World War spontaneously arranged temporary truces or cease fires. Most of these events occurred at Christmas, 1914, but there were several similar truces throughout the war. In this film, a German line faces a French unit and a Scottish unit, on Christmas eve, 1914. When a German opera singer begins singing "Silent Night," the Scottish bagpipes join in from the opposing trenches. The commanding officers decide that there will be general truce, during which the dead in no-man's land will be buried. Soon, there is general fraternization. There were no strong ideological barriers, and great deal of Western Culture in common. (On pain of death, I could not tell you what the First World War was about, or why it was necessary, and I'm sure the soldiers at the time were just as mystified.)

The higher ups are horrified when they learn about this, and take steps to make sure similar humanity does not crop up again. Eventually, the German troops are sent to the Russian front without being allowing to get off the train in Germany. Even the chaplains preach sermons aimed at convincing the troops that God is on their side and that the enemy is the barbarous hun.

One false note is that the Scottish troops have a Catholic priest for a chaplain, although at that time the vast majority of Scots were Presbyterians (Calvinists). On the other hand, there probably were some Catholic chaplains among the Scottish troops. Also the trenches seem impossibly close together, but there were places along the front were the opposing trenches were only 40 yards apart, so this isn't necessarily unrealistic.

Be sure to watch the bonus feature interview with the French director. He really did his research for this film, and it is interesting to hear about it.

It is an outstanding movie about the spontaneous Christmas truce that occurred at many places on the Western Front during World War I in 1914. It is spoken three languages (French, German, English) and has English subtitles where necessary. The movie covers only one small part of the front but is extremely moving. This is one of the best war movies I have ever seen.

This movie was well worth watching; the acting was well done, the plot is moving, and the costumes were very well done.
The best part about this movie was that it was based on actual events, I highly recommend checking out the special features.